Hypoxic training for Masters?

Have there been any studies demonstrating value gained from hypoxic training? I have never seen anything. I personally don't like hypoxic sets and don't do them. Oh, I suppose I do do kick sets where I go a length underwater but I don't think of that as hypoxic work since I am not trying to push my time without a breath. Nancy's point about learning to relax without breathing is about the only value that I have ever found in this type of swimming.

I'm a total slacker when it comes to following the directions on breath control sets. i always breathe every other stroke. I also breathe in and out of my turns. I think it screws up my turns the most. I get real sloppy. so, in light of this, I think their are benefits to following the directions on breath control sets. (I didn't say I was going to start, though.) Many of the guys I train with do follow pretty strictly to what the coach says. there is a real beauty to doing what you are told in swimming. sometimes coaches are crazy though. i know because i used to be one and i used to sit around all day and think of ways to torture people. my advice...do what you think is best; alter the sets to your needs. but don't undermine the coaches authority. it makes them paranoid and then they spend too much time focusing on keeping everyone happy instead of doing their job.

i sometimes swim with a reduced breathing pattern (every 5 or 7 strokes) as a way of equalizing my speed with someone who is slower. it is a great way to swim a mile or three together without either of us feeling mis-matched and makes it quite challenging for me even though it has the effect of slowing my pace.

I have a question as a swimming noob...can someone define hypoxic set compared to being instructed to race a 50 on one breath each direction? Same thing? Difference?:confused: I guess I question because as a former singer, I have a ton of lung capacity (ok, well, technically a really flexible diaphragm, but that's splitting hairs), and find that if I'm doing concentrated stroke work I'll often go 2 breaths/25...which seems like way less than some other people take. This can be a bit taxing, especially on longer sets, but it's definitely no where near where I'd be afraid of passing out. Thanks, Jim

No, I never really did any crazy hypoxic work. Well, not until I swam for Mook Rodenbaugh. Mook once gave me 30 25's underwater dolphin kick on my back on 30 seconds. That was a tremendous challenge that I can't imagine reproducing. Jim, technically hypoxic swimming is swimming while holding one's breath. So your example would be hypoxic. But to me hypoxic training is holding your breath while swimming until you are uncomfortable. I will often do work these days where I hold my breath, say doing 25s underwater or kickouts to the 15 meter. And certainly I will race while holding my breath for a 50. But these things are not mentally challenging like a true "hypoxic" set, in my mind. Perhaps others would not make a distinction like this.

free divers will frequently black out during apnea training. for them its not a big deal, and necessary to know where this threshold exists. check out this link www.impulseadventure.com/.../tips-technique.html

Our coach gives us hypoxic sets once in a while. He also likes to give us sets that confuse the the mathematically challenged. Here's an example of one of our recent warm up sets, consisting of twenty-three 50s: Warm Up: Prime Number 50's 23 x 50 @ :50 Breath control for all prime numbered 50's: #1 - 9 breaths/50 #2 - 8 breaths/50 #3 - 7 breaths/50 #5 - 6 breaths/50 #7 - 5 breaths/50 ... #23 - 0 breaths/50 Non-prime numbered 50's are your choice of stroke This is kind of a fun set because you spend a fair amount of time trying to figure out whether your next 50 is a prime number, and also because you have to plan where you're going to take the breaths during that 50.

First of all, I am not a coach, just a swimmer. But, I have never seen a coach prescribe an hypoxic set that would endager any swimmer, 56 years old or not. The typical hypoxic set seldom requires one to see how far he or she can go without breathing. More typical is a set where you vary the number of breaths you take per lap. For example, if you normally breathe every 2 strokes, alternate swimming 50s breathing everry 2 strokes with those breathing every 4 strokes. It is a valuable exercise in that it not only expands your lung capacity, but it causes you to notice that you must relax you stroke in order to take less breaths comfortably. Of course, if it makes you light-headed, or if your doctor forbids it for health reasons, you should refrain from swimming the hypoxic set. (P.S.---I'm 56 and have exercise-induced asthma, and I do hypoxic sets with no trouble. However, each swimmer has to know his or her own limits.)

Last fall I attended an alumni reunion at my alma mater. On Saturday morning, we had a chance to get in at the tail end of the team's workout. We swam about 2,500 yards, and then did some breath control work: Hold yourself underwater against/under the bulkhead. First round: 30 secs. Everyone made it. Second round: 1 minute. Most made it, though a few old farts didn't. Third round: 1:30. This went on until 2:30, and there were still a few of the young guys making it. FWIW, we never did that when I was there. The worst we did was x yards, breathing 3/5/7/9/11, etc.

I think it helps get you used to the feeling so you can get in and out of walls better in a race without panicking from the discomfort.